The U12s are Heading to Germany!

Good luck to Chesterfield’s U12s who are in Germany this weekend taking part in the Stockhausen Junior Cup in Dusseldorf.

It’s a prestigious competition featuring a host of Bundesliga clubs and naturally it’s one that the players, parents and coaching staff are all looking forward to.

Academy coach Darren Molloy said: “It’s an invite only tournament, it’s going to an elite, high quality event and a real challenge for the boys, ultimately, we keep doing well, hence why we get the invites.

“When they go across, they will be alongside Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen and VFL Wolfsburg, while there’ll be professional teams from Poland taking part as well, it’ll will be a great experience for the kids.”

The Spireites have been drawn into a group containing German teams Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and two other German sides and Molloy is happy with the group and the challenges it will bring.

“It will be a good test and variety of teams on Saturday,” he said. “With Sunday being the grade off tournament and seeing how we finish.

“We’ll play four games on Saturday, with the top two going into the top tournament on Sunday, while the bottom two go into the second tournament also on Sunday.

“Then the teams that finish third in the group will all play each other in a World Cup style play-off with the winners going into Sunday’s top tournament, so you’re guaranteed five games on Sunday.”

Molloy is no stranger to European tournaments, having covered many during his time with the academy, but this weekend’s trip will mark the first for foundation phase lead coach Elliott Flowers.

“Elliot coming in has been good,” Molloy added. “He’s been great with the lads he’s looking forward to it and it’s great to have him over there helping the boys.

“It’ll also be good for him as we’ve got other tournaments planned throughout the season.”

To keep up to date with the U12s progress across the weekend, be sure to follow @ChesterfieldYth on Twitter.